China marked the 33rd
World
Earth Day with activities in downtown areas of Beijing on
Monday, urging environmental protection against mining damage.
Mining activities have caused land collapses at more than 180 sites
across China and affected more than 1,150 square kilometers.
Nearly 40 cities suffered from subsidence disasters as a result of
mining, with 25 cities the worst affected. Economic losses from
mining-based subsidence cost more than 400 million yuan (48 million
U.S. dollars) every year.
Chinese mining ventures produced 13.38 billion tons of solid waste
each year, with less than 7 percent treated.
About 20,000 square kilometers of land have been destroyed or
occupied by open-cast mining and the stock-piling of waste residue.
And the area affected is increasing by 200 square kilometers every
year.
Waste water released from mines makes up 10 percent of the national
total of industrial waste water, but the treatment rate is only 4
percent.
Officials from the Ministry of Land and Resources attribute the
major reason for damage from mining to the lack of laws and
regulations, funds for environmental protection and necessary
technologies.
The ministry will strengthen the drafting of laws and regulations,
set up special funds for environmental protection against mining,
to monitor the environment and strengthen international cooperation
in technological research.
World Earth Day originated in the United States 32 years ago,
aiming to raise global awareness of environmental issues. So far,
about 200 million people in more than 140 countries and regions
have participated in Earth Day activities.
(Xinhua News
Agency April 23, 2002)